Game apparatus



June 11, 1940- L. COLALUCA GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2, 1939 w wuw LEOILCZIZZO 00 [a luca ATTO R N EYS Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,204,473 GAME APPARATUS Leonardo Colaluca, Somerville, N. J. Application August 2, 1939, Serial No. 288,049

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a game apparatus and more especially to an apparatus for playing ten pins.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- 5 vision of an apparatus of this character wherein a stand supports a game table imitative of a bowling alley wherein ten pins can be played either by a cue or by rolling balls in the direction of set up pins and such balls when played will be returned to a player, the apparatus being of novel construction and lends amusement and entertainment to players of the game.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the structure thereof enables the playing of a game of ten pins either indoors or outdoors withoutthe necessity of a permanently built standard size of bowling alley in that the apparatus is of miniature size and is readily portable from one location to another.-

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the ten pins and balls used therewith are readily recoverable and the balls can be returned to a player after the playing thereof in that said balls when delivered to a chute through gravity will be brought to a returned position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, its construction eliminates the necessity of players stooping when sending the ball for the striking of the pins in the playing of the game of ten pins, and-inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a mutilated top plan view of the apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, showing associated therewith a cue device constituting the subject matter of another application for patent and a ball sent therefrom.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the cue device removed. I

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of- Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the apparatus constructed in accordance with the inven- 5.

tion is generally denoted at A while B is a one device for use with the apparatus and this device is the subject matter of a separate application for patent filed August 2, 1939, and serially numbered 288,048. 10

The apparatus A comprises a legged stand, a portion thereof being indicated at III for supporting a substantially rectangularshaped table involving a bed ll, side walls l2 and opposite end walls l3 and I4, respectively, these walls being 15 perpendicular and extend for a major portion of the length of the bed slightly elevated from the plane thereof while the minor portion of the side walls I2 together with the end wall l4 are elevated a considerable distance above the plane of 20 the bed II to effect a trapping scape l5. Superimposed upon the bed II and extending a distance from the end wall l3 into the trapping space l5 but removed from the wall I4 thereof is a flat level ball runway l6, being of uniform width 25 considerably less than the width of the table A for a major portion of the length of said runway and the minor portion constitutes a flared or fan spread like pin setting terminal I! which is also spaced from the side walls I 2 and the 30 end wall M. This terminal I! constitutes a pin setting area for ten pins l8 while a ball 01' balls l9 are adapted to travel the runway for the striking and upsetting of the ten pins l8 when set up for the purpose of playing a game of ten 35 pins in the use of the apparatus.

The end wall I3 is medially cut away at 20 so as to enable the convenient sending of the ball I!) in the runway l6 for the striking of the ten pins l8 at the terminal H, the setting arrange- 40 ment being shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. T

The table A is fastened upon the legged stand I0 so that said table will be level in the supporting thereof by the's tand. Within the trap- 45- pingspace I5 is arranged an inclined board 2| whichextends from the bed I I contiguous to the wall M, the latter being equipped with a cushioning device or pad 22 at the striking side thereof when the pins l8 have been knocked down and 5 tumble topsy-turvy into the trapping space IS, the board 2! being for the purpose of directing the sent balls l9 through an exit 23 from the space l5 communicative with a return chute 24 being inclined in the direction of the wall l3 so 55 that the balls gravitating in this chute 24 will return to the player of a game in the use of the apparatus. The chute at the end thereof next to the wall I3 is readily accessible to retrieve balls therefrom. The chute 2 5 is maintained fixed in the stand at the forward inclination stated.

The exit 23 has projected thereinto an inherently resilient guard 25 so that balls being passed through the said exit 23 will be checked against return to the trapping space l5 but will be assured of gravitating for a return to a player in the chute 2- 3.

The table A at opposite longer sides of the ball runway I6 is provided with depressed alleys or gutters 25 so that if the balls l9 in the sending thereof swerve from a straight course, will roll into the alleys or gutters 26 and be directed into the trapping space it; without efiecting a strike of the set pins it for the upsetting thereof.

The cue device Bis adapted for swivel mounting on the table A and the latter has provided therein the pivot pin opening Z'l of the swivel pin, not shown, of the said device B, which latter is described in detail in the said application filed August 2, i939, serially numbered 288,048.

lhe balls can be sent over the runway Hi either by hand rolling thereof or by the use of the device B or an ordinary billiard or pool cue, not shown. The playing of the game of ten pins in miniature style by the use of the apparatus is most interesting and for the winning of the game requires skill on the part of the player resultant in entertainment and amusement to such players, being either outdoor or indoor game.

The game apparatus hereinbefore described is adaptable for use as a miniature shuffle board and in this instance in substitute for the balls discs or the like will be employed as playing pieces. Additionally the game apparatus can be used for the playing of games involving movable play pieces.

The terminal 5? of the ball runway 16 having the flared or spread formation disposes the ten pins 58 at the sides of the group thereof when in set position laterally of the said runway l5 thus making it difficult for the striking of these pins by the balls when thrown due to the fact that each ball having striking of said pins will travel on of the runway into the gutters at opposite sides of the latter by reason of the fact that such pins are not disposed in a direct line with the said runway. This construction just mentioned creates a tendency for the ball to roll oil of the runway before striking the laterally ofiset pins of the group at the terminal l'l.

What is claimed is:

A game apparatus comprising a substantially rectangular shaped table having a bed, side walls and opposite end walls, respectively, the side and end Walls being vertical to the bed and extending for a major portion of the length thereof with the minor portion of the said side walls together with one end wall elevated a considerable distance above the plane of said bed for effecting a trapping space, a flat level ball runway superimposed upon said bed and carried into the trapping space and having a uniform width considerably less than the width of the table for a major distance thereof and a minor flared fan spreadlike portion constituting a pin-setting terminal within the said trapping space, vertical side and end walling immediately beneath the terminal, chute opening into the trapping space beyond opposite sides and the end adjacent thereto of the said setting terminal and being inclined away from the said trapping space with the lowermost end of the said chute terminating remote from the said space, and an inclined board within the trapping space with the incline of such board reversed to the incline of the chute for gravity action of the pins from the terminal when knocked therefrom and their delivery into the trapping space, the end walling beneath the terminal and the inclined board having registering openings for the passage of a ball only therethrough to the chute.

LEONARDO COLALUCA. 

